Oh how I love Christmas! Mariah (and lately Justin Bieber, the horror) constantly wanting only me from speakers of the randomest of places (butcher’s down the road, WHY); the smart-ass, seemingly-omniscient gift guides of the interwebs; twelve days of Christmas and one very bankrupt and exhausted true love; the visible struggle for the shops to make a watered down version of the season’s products (i.e very well-dressed snowmen decorations and elaborate snowflakes) that hopefully appeal to those that don’t necessarily, by religion or whatnot, celebrate the day but would still like to participate in the buzz…. But most of all, the ‘christ’-lessness of ‘Christ’mas, and a whole month of cringing at the fact that it’s less and less that and more and more ‘x’ of Xmas, probably x = the unknown? To be very frank, I always find myself distressed by the noise around Christmas – this of course will serve as the primary reason to the fact that my children will be the scoundrels who will break the Santa secret to all his classmates on the eve, making the night truly sleepless but for entirely different reasons. And I will die of chronic cynicism, on Christmas day, surely.

Babbling aside, this year I was most drawn to Malachi chapter 4, the final book and chapter of the Old Testament which dates 300 years before the birth of Christ, but in all its might leaves a big arrow towards the coming of Jesus. (Yes Christmas is defacto a pagan tradition and Jesus was really born closer to March but if we’re plastering babies & mangers over our cards and we’ve allocated ONE time during the year to remember His birth then might as well do it properly)

These photographs are really lovely! Love the combination of different textures that you’re wearing and the pop of colour from your clutch. You’re definitely right about each year Christmas being less about Christ, but pft at your dying of chronic cynicism– sometimes back to basics of holidays is the way it should be ^^ Hope you had a wonderful day!

inspired post!
on a related note I am profoundly baffled by how much people love their santa claus. It’s so completely ridiculous. When i tell people I don’t plan to LIE to my children about a fake gift giver that completely obscures the reason for Christmas, I get incredulous/horrified reactions. They say I am “ruining the magic of Christmas”. Come on, really??!! I really wonder about people these days.

It’s so bizarre seeing Christmas from the view of an adult with my sister’s little kids. They all know Santa isn’t real (but like to pretend and call my mom ‘NanaClaus’) – my sister never told them he wasn’t real but she never said he was either (she just asked them if they thought he was real – and they said no). My niece, who’s in kindergarten, didn’t have a Christmas party or do anything related to Christmas at school… bummer, huh? I’m pretty sure the people at Starbucks weren’t even allowed to say ‘Merry Christmas.’ I said it to them on Christms eve and they said ‘Have a nice night.’ L.a.m.e.

Anything ‘xmas’ always gives me the creeps.

Anyway. Hope you had a merry day Shini and got to spend the day with the ones you love. xx

I’ve been an avid follower of P&C for a few years now, but I am finally posting my thoughts here to add a little perspective and to comment on your “Xmas” thoughts. “X” has long been used to denote Jesus Christ in ancient Christian art dating back to 400 AD. Uses also of “X”, “XP” and “Xt” are well documented throughout the entire history of the English-speaking world. “Xmas” was long used as a shortened version of “Christmas” back in the 1700’s and other variants substituting “X” for “Christ” were used hundreds of years prior. And while I do not disagree on the utter crassness of Christmas consumerism, it’s an inarguable that this fundamental story of modern Christianity still reaches even the most secular of communities through this holiday, in that virtually everyone in the world has some knowledge or idea of the birth of Christ, which can very well pique spiritual interest. The message may be diluted, but it is far from lost.

I always feel the most cynical as Christmas season approaches. The garishness of mall decorations, the gift lists in magazines and the watering down of the real reason we celebrate. At least now I feel less alone. Blessed Christmas, Shini. May we all find ways to still be thankful and full of cheer despite Carey and Bieber.

hahaha adore the cynicism. bring. it. on.
the holiday seasons, just like everything else in life has its goods and bads. Not gonna lie, this is the time of indulgence for me and my family, and although we can pick any other day to do this, we pick “Christmas.” I remember my parents doing the whole Santa Claus thing for one year when I was a kid, and they totally went all out with the gifts. Sure it felt great, but when I think about, all that stuff was completely unnecessary. Things haven’t really changed much, and in short, we’re just big consuming ho-bags Alls I know is that I hope I don’t do the same to my kids…not exactly the best way to go about life unfortunately.
Either way, enjoy your holiday and respite!xoxo

greetings from Croatia in this festive time of year. March or December, i sometimes think we devised this day to somehow make us remember that we too can be good and warm-hearted and not just chase money to survive

Hi hi Celia, you’re absolutely right and don’t get me wrong, it really is the perfect opportunity to invite friends to hear the gospel and spread the Good News around the world, but it pains me – and this may be the cynicism monster speaking again – that in modern society the message is so diluted that any spiritual awakening is either lost or banked for the same time next year (or come Easter, perhaps). Obviously I don’t intend to shoot down Christmas as a holiday, but I most certainly won’t add to the froth by making materialistic wishlists and adorning the house up and down with red & green fairylights and woodcut reindeers. If it’s spiritual interest we’re after I’d be more inclined to deliver an UNdiluted message when given the opportunity. I’m also aware of the historical origins of the ‘X’, but again, nowadays it’s hardly seems to be used for that purpose, non?
xx

HHahahahahaaa you make me laugh so much, miss you KittyKat!!
I’m really curious to see how the holidays is ‘celebrated’ in the countryside of HK, isn’t it like 20 degrees still? hhehe
Take careee, and come back soon <3

i love the way you reflect on cultural, every-day phenomenons. like your thoughts of christ/xmas in this particular case. and: love your pics. and your style. naturally. best from luxembourg / berlin, lis

OHhh yeah there’s also that religious sensitivity nowadays huh, now it’s not diluted enough, they’re banning it! It must suck though as kids.
Miss you Jenny Jen jen! Saw that kickass tree with presents stacked under, goodness meeee that pic just smells of Christmas dinner and lots of laughs.
(Can I be more corny?)

Well it’s 20 mins bus ride to the nearest suburban town, the villagers here celebrate their own festive holidays by taking a bike ride along the promenade, BBQ is common here or go fishing.
I’ve spotted a wild boar in my village, would have caught it for my BBQ roast.

You look more and more beautiful with every post, your impeccable sense of style aside.
Bright colors definitely work for you!

Merry Christmas!

Hannah

December 26, 2011 at 6:36 pm

Agreed agreed with how diluted Christmas has become. Or have we just grown older you think? I don’t remember Christmas being any more “Christ”mas when I was younger–actually yes, with Sunday school plays at least we were reminded of the day. But perhaps this is why I feel less and less excited for Christmas…the true meaning of Christmas was hardly ever there and now it has worn off completely without the substitute of Santa and his elves. While it is a day after Christmas, good thing you reminded me to think about the true meaning of Christmas…you see, I know what the day is yet its too easy to be swayed by the commercialized meaning…Anyway, Merry Christ-mas to you!

Hello beautiful! I found your blog by chance looking at each other and I must say that I love it. You have a different and original style that has left me speechless. Your posts, so I can see, are great and you will see a great person. I like your bag, it’s fantastic! :-)

Hii!!! ^_^
I follow you for time because I LOVE your photos and your style.
I like the design graphics. I would like to know which is the letter you used in the first image (Merry…)
I’m sorry, my english language is very bad haha I’m from Spain.
Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year ^^
xxx
♥♥♥♥

First off, I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas! Truly, it is nice to leave a comment to a fellow Christian who is celebrating Christmas for the true meaning of CHRISTMAS :) Also, I had never looked at the “x” in “xmas” like how you had explained it. That is true, and through the years, I’ve refused to write Christmas this way.

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